of a coverup, or was it because they were trying to avoid acknowledging mistakes this close to the election? so there is always a political consequence, and certainly's tonight, the white house is strongly defending susan rice, but she is in the cross-hairs of the political argument and that will be pursued by the republicans who have been hammering away for days saying that the administration deliberately covered up. something the white houses strongly denying. >>> all right, andrea mitchell, thank you, we want to let you know about a special broadcast in the works for monday. brian will be here to bring you a series of reports we're calling "at the brink" including ann curry, and richard engel in syria, and more. a hard look at some of the most dangerous conflicts in the world, and here at home, special coverage will start sunday on nightly news. >>> and on the presidential campaign trail today, mitt romney acknowledges he is fighting an uphill battle in the battleground state of pennsylvania, but he maintains he can win there, as attention is already turning to the debates next week, whi